2008 FIRE SEASON Presented by: Battalion Chief Matt McCaslin Today’s Presentation Historical look at Large Fires in Santa Cruz Last years three BIG fires in Santa Cruz State & Area Fire Coordination How citizens can be better prepared Low Fuel Moistures & Low Relative Humidity's = WILDLAND FIRES Fire Season Nearly Year Round On Tuesday Dec. 9th... Ventura County ½ acre fire blooms to 30 acres from the wind. Major Local Fires 1948 Pine Mountain Fire (Newell Creek) 19,000 Acres 1954 Ben Lomond Dump Fire 1,500 Acres 24 Buildings 1960 Gazos Creek (Pescadero) 2,500 Acres 1980 Last Chance (Big Basin) 400 Acres 1985 Lexington Fire 14,000 Acres 42 Homes Largest Mutual Aid Fire in California’s History (at that time) 2002 CROY FIRE 3,127 Acres 31 Homes 2008 Fires Santa Cruz County Martin Fire Trabing Fire Summit Fire Summit Fire May 22, 2008 5:20am Summit Fire Location Summit Road & Mayman Flats Between Corralitos and Loma Prieta Summit Fire 4,270 Acres 63 Homes & 69 Outbuildings Cost $14.85 Million Summit Fire Evacuation & Security Evacuation Centers Summit Fire Governor Praises Work of Firefighters Supervisor Tony Campos asks Governor Schwarzenegger for Emergency Declaration Declaration allows for statewide resources & $ Summit Fire Volunteer Animal Rescue Summit Fire Resources 2,683 Firefighters 83 Crews 2 Air Tankers C-130 Tanker 13 Helicopters 259 Engines 37 Water Tenders 54 Dozers Summit Fire Contained May 27th 6:00pm During Summit Fire Quail Hallow Fire During Summit Fire Quail Hallow Fire 15 Acres Handled all by “In County Resources” Martin Fire June 11, 2008 2:54pm Martin Fire Location Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve Martin Road East of Bonny Doon N. of Smith Grade Rd. Martin Fire 520 Acres 11 Homes Cost $4.9 Million Martin Smoke Column from Westside Santa Cruz City Bonny Doon Airport Staging & Base Camp Martin Fire Contained June 16th 6:00pm Trabing Fire June 20, 2008 2:10 pm Trabing Fire Location Highway 1 near Buena Vista Larkin Valley Road area South and West from Freedom Blvd. Trabing Fire 620 Acres 26 Homes Trabing Fire from East Cliff Drive Trabing Fire From Watsonville Community Hospital Rooftop Fire from Watsonville looking North Highway 1 Completely Shut Down Trabing fire taken from Seascape New Lightning Fires June 21st 15 new fires Several 2+ Acres Trabing Fire Contained June 22 6:30 pm Tankers Helicopters Dozers Hand Crews Engines Engines Tool up Too! Engine on Mobile Attack Engine on Holding Action Engines on Structure Protection Engine Strike Teams 2007 Witch Fire Strike Team Visit from President Bush Fire Camps Daily Briefings 80% of homes ignite from embers and small fires starting around the home! Clean Roof & Gutters Provide 100’ Clearance Cover all openings to house Keep all combustibles away from the house Evacuation Checklist What to Take Food & Water Medications First Aid Kit Pets Cell Phones Important Documents Jewelry Check book, Credit Cards, etc. Don’t Wait to Evacuate Wildfire Protection Begins at Home 100-Foot Safety Zone New Law Family Disaster Planning Outside Preparations A GOOD DAY FIREFIGHTING… Everyone gets a safe return ticket home..